Junior Malkia Strikers crowned African Nations Volleyball champions

The Kenya women’s Under-20 volleyball team, the Junior Malkia Strikers, are the new queens of Africa after beating hosts Cameroon 3-1 in the final of the Women’s U20 African Nations Volleyball Championship in Yaounde.

Cheered on by a small but loud group of Kenyan supporters inside the Palais des Sports Complex, the young stars showed grit and class to win their first-ever continental title.

They took the opening set 26-24, stumbled 19-25 in the second, before edging a tense third 28-26. In the fourth set, Kenya dominated 25-16 to seal the victory.

The result was even sweeter as it came against the only team that had beaten them in the tournament.

Six days earlier, Cameroon had handed Kenya a 3-0 defeat in the group stages. This time, coach Jackline Barasa’s charges turned the tables in style, controlling play and refusing to be intimidated by the home crowd.

Captain and tournament MVP Terry Mallin Tata led from the front, inspiring a team that had already secured qualification for the 2026 World Under-20 Championships in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Kenya’s road to the title began with a commanding 3-0 win over Senegal, followed by victories against Uganda, Egypt, and Burundi. Their only blemish was the loss to Cameroon in the round-robin stage, but they bounced back to beat Egypt again in the semifinals.

Cameroon, who also booked a ticket to the World Championships, had beaten Senegal in their semifinal but could not match Kenya’s energy in the final. Egypt claimed bronze with a 3-1 win over Senegal.

For the Junior Malkia Strikers, this historic win is more than a trophy—it is a statement that Kenya’s volleyball future is bright and ready for the world stage.